Kunafa Tower
A stunning Kunafa Tower made of crispy kataifi dough layers, sweet melted cheese, and fragrant sugar syrup. A show-stopping Middle Eastern dessert that's both easy and authentic!
Equipment
- Mixing bowl for combining kataifi dough and butter
- Baking Pans for baking kunafa layers
- Saucepan for making sugar syrup
Ingredients
- 1 lb kataifi (shredded phyllo dough) thawed if frozen
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 lb sweet cheese (Nabulsi or Akkawi) desalted if necessary, shredded
- 1 cup sugar for syrup
- 1/2 cup water for syrup
- 1 tsp lemon juice for syrup
- 1 tsp rose water or orange blossom water optional, for syrup
- 1/2 cup crushed pistachios for garnish
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in rose water if using, and let cool.
- In a mixing bowl, toss shredded kataifi dough with melted butter until fully coated.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Divide the kataifi dough into three equal portions. Press one portion into a greased baking pan, creating an even layer.
- Evenly distribute the shredded sweet cheese over the kataifi layer. Press lightly.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the kataifi is golden brown and crispy.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and carefully layer the kunafa rounds on top of each other to form a tower.
- While still warm, pour the prepared sugar syrup over the kunafa tower, allowing it to soak in.
- Sprinkle crushed pistachios on top and serve warm.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftover kunafa in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Customization: Substitute sweet cheese with ricotta and mozzarella for a similar texture.
- Serving Tip: Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a rich contrast.